Tzu Chi Foundation Support Fire Victims in Gloucester
By Admire Olando Price
With support from the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, Partners to Serve Humanity have provided support to fire victims in Loko Town, Gloucester Village. The victims received blankets, food items and other household utensils. The support came after fire gutted the community on 30th May 2023 leaving over twenty-nine families homeless including women and children.
Distributing the items, Caritas Freetown Project Manager, Idrissa Gibson Mansaray said the Loko Town community in Gloucester was gutted by an unknown inferno leaving scores of families homeless.
He said over 288 individuals were made homeless as a result of the fire with their property lost.
“We have been aiding the community since the fire incident providing them with hot meal. Today we are exiting the community but we cannot go without leaving them with this kind of support. This is an exit support to demonstrate love for the people, he said.
Margret Bassie, Tzu Chi Foundation Country Representative in Sierra Leone noted that the relief items represent the exit phase from the community and it’s a demonstration of great love.
She said the support will go a long way in aiding the victims.
“Make sure you take care of yourself and don’t sell the items given to you because it is for you. The blanket will aid you as we approach the rains, she said.”
Victim, Olive Sia Sesay while receiving the items thank Tzu Chi Foundation for providing the relief items noting that the items came at the right time.
Ms. Olive noted that the rains have started coming but the blanket given to them they will be able to endure the cold weather.
‘We lost everything when the fire breakout. We don’t know the cause but we were made to understand that somebody was smoking kush and did not dispose of the waste properly that led to the fire outbreak, she said.
Madam Olive called on Government to come to their aid noting that they need more.
36 families who were victims of the fire have now received specially made blankets, multigrain powder a high protein porridge and 50 kilogram of rice per family. 20 under five children received baby food, diapers and baby milk formula while 186 women and girls received dignity kits comprising sanitary pads, laundry, bathing, lapper slippers, underwear toothbrush, toothpaste, towels and 3 sets of used clothing each.
